US warns China over deportations, signals possible travel curbs

The United States has warned that it may impose additional travel restrictions on China if Beijing does not accelerate efforts to repatriate Chinese nationals who are in the country illegally, a senior official in President Donald Trump’s administration told Reuters.

According to the official, China has recently slowed its cooperation on accepting deportees, a development that has raised concerns in Washington. The warning comes just days before Trump’s planned visit to Beijing on May 14–15, where he is expected to discuss the issue directly with Xi Jinping.

The visit is seen as significant for Trump, who is seeking to secure trade concessions from China ahead of November’s midterm elections, amid polling that suggests potential losses for his Republican Party.

Since returning to the White House early last year, Trump has made stricter immigration enforcement a central policy priority, including pressuring countries to accept deported nationals. His administration has previously threatened tariffs and sanctions against countries that refuse to cooperate.

China has long resisted US requests to repatriate tens of thousands of its citizens who have either overstayed their visas or entered the country illegally. After Trump took office, Beijing indicated it would accept “confirmed Chinese nationals” following verification procedures, though it emphasized that such processes require time.

According to the senior US official, China accepted around 3,000 deportees via charter and commercial flights in early 2025. However, cooperation has declined over the past six months. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal policy considerations.

China “refuses to fully cooperate with the United States to take back its citizens,” the official said, describing this as a violation of China’s international obligations and responsibilities toward its nationals.

The official added that if cooperation does not improve, the United States could introduce stricter measures, including higher cash bonds tied to visa applications, issuing fewer visas, and increasing entry denials at the border.

“Inaction by the Chinese government will jeopardise future travel for law-abiding Chinese citizens,” the official said.

Beijing has previously stated that it opposes illegal migration, describing it as an “international issue that requires cooperation between countries.”

By Tamilla Hasanova